The Crystal Cave Book One, Chapter 5 Summary

  • Inside the cave, Merlin feels something like an adrenaline rush. It's clearly a powerful place for him, but he doesn't know the extent of it yet.
  • Merlin realizes pretty quickly that no one's home, but he still feels a kind of presence there. Spoiler: bats. Lots and lots of bats. They fly away when Merlin approaches.
  • Merlin has one slightly heart-stopping experience: he sees something moving in the dark of the cave. But don't panic too much—it's just his reflection in a large bronze mirror.
  • Merlin finds some cool things in the cave, but just as he's about to light a torch, the owner of the place returns. Merlin hides himself in a space near the back of the cave.
  • It turns out that Merlin is sitting in a bowl-like space filled with crystal formations. Yeah, not comfy. When the unknown man strikes a torch, the whole space fills with blinding light.
  • Merlin flips out when his little cavelet looks like it's caught fire. Also, he's being shredded by the crystals. It's not a bad thing when the man calls for him to come out.
  • But still, Merlin's on the defensive. He emerges with his dagger drawn.